Boise Dentists Blog

At Summit Dental, we love sharing our everyday life. Sometimes we'll post about tips on brushing your teeth or about how much we love our new office. Check back often to see what the latest is at our Boise Dentist Office.

Finding a Boise dentist that you’re comfortable with isn’t always easy. In fact, many people throughout the Treasure Valley dread going to the dentist more than they do the doctor. From the moment they walk in the door, they feel anxious and ready to leave. However, the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group have made it our mission to make you feel comfortable and confident when it comes time for your next visit.

To us, you’re more than a just a patient, you’re a part of the Summit Dental family. We make it a top priority to listen to your concerns while tailoring a treatment plan to accommodate what works best for you. Our Boise dentists understand that every patient is different, and our staff respects the choices you make when it comes to your oral health care. By continually striving to add value to the services we provide the community, you can feel good knowing our team is interested in getting to know you as a person while providing you with the best treatment options available.

At Summit Dental Group, we make it our mission to deliver the best level of care based on your overall health and well-being. Our goal is to not only build strong relationships with our Treasure Valley patients but ultimately improve their lives through the services we provide.

With a variety of preventative and restorative procedures to choose from, Summit Dental Group is constantly incorporating the latest dental techniques to provide you with a healthy, beautiful smile. We stay up-to-date by exceeding our continuing education requirements to provide top-quality excellence to all of our patients.

Summit Dental Offers a Variety of Services

At Summit Dental Group, we want you to look and feel great. That’s why we believe that preventative care and education are extremely important to optimal dental health. We focus on thorough exams, checking the overall health of teeth and gums, and knowing how crucial this is in preventing dental disease. Not only are we concerned about the beauty of our patient’s smile, we are also concerned about the overall health of our patients.

Whether your dental needs are a complete exam and cleaning, a full mouth restoration, or anything in between, Summit Dental Group will provide exceptional care as we restore and enhance the natural beauty of your smile. We’re here to support you and guide you in making the best choices for your oral health!

Proper Boise dental care is important at every age, especially in our senior years. While seniors are at greater risk for developing oral health issues, there are things you can do to prevent issues from developing with proper at-home care and professional Boise dental services. Doing so will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums for many years to come.

Adapting For Change

As any Boise dentist will tell you, it’s important to pay special attention to our teeth as we get older. During our 50’s, 60’s and 70’s there is a variety of age related circumstances that can affect the overall health of our teeth and gums. Some of these include:

Normal wear and tear that include cracks, chips and old fillings

Damage due to grinding and clenching

Medications and dry mouth

Decreased bone density

Decreased ability to care for teeth

So what can you do to prevent unwanted issues from developing? The answer is a lifelong commitment to at-home care while visiting your Boise dentist twice a year for preventive exams and cleanings. Doing so will provide you with a better chance at maintaining healthy teeth and gums as you age while avoiding dental emergencies and losing teeth.

Popular Treatments for Seniors

Even with proper dental care, it’s not uncommon for seniors to develop issues that warrant the help your downtown Boise dentist. Fortunately, many of the treatments we offer can restore your teeth to their original glory while preventing more serious issues from developing.

Treatments include:

Boise teeth whitening

Porcelain veneers

Boise crowns and bridges

Boise dental implants

Root planing and scaling

Summit Dental Group

If you’re a senior and would like more information about the preventative and restorative treatments we offer, the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. With over 35+ years of experience helping patients throughout the Treasure Valley, we offer advanced treatment options combined with an incredible staff that’s ready to help!

Contact us at (208) 345-8962 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you!

There was a time in our history when the only solution for a damaged or problematic tooth was to pull it. This was when there were only barbers or doctors to pull teeth. Eventually, dental schools were established and the dental profession was born. This is when we began to understand the nature of dental diseases, and preventative/restorative measures began to take place.

Today, however, people have the ability to visit their downtown Boise dentist and enjoy the benefits of preventing issues that require special care. In fact, pulling a tooth due to disease or decay has become the last resort option. That’s a true paradigm shift!

To Pull or Not to Pull…

Going back to the original question, there are a variety of reasons that may warrant the removal of a tooth. Some of these include:

Severe Decay (or) Trauma

Problematic Crowding

Baby Tooth Removal

Problematic Wisdom Teeth

Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Dentures

However, it’s important to remember that once they are gone, they are gone. That’s why the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group believe that preventative care and education are the keys to maintaining optimal dental health. Prevention can help you avoid an unwanted tooth extraction and if you do have a problem, restorative dentistry is inexpensive at the early stages of disease or decay. The catch? You have to schedule regular Boise dental visits twice a year for bi-annual checkups and cleanings.

During these visits we focus on thorough exams, checking the overall health of your teeth and gums. By catching any oral health issues early, they will be far easier to treat than by waiting. Visiting your Boise dentist as a preventative step, rather than waiting to have a tooth pulled will save you time, money and discomfort in the long run.

Summit Dental Group

Regular dental cleanings and checkups can do more than keep your smile attractive. They can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums over a lifetime. If you do need to have a tooth pulled for whatever reason, the Boise dentists at Summit Dental will explore all other restorative options first before making that final decision. When we do pull a tooth, however, you can feel confident that you’re in good hands. We will provide you with a comfortable, painless procedure and help you decide what dental options will work best to replace your missing tooth.

If you have any questions about whether or not you should have a tooth pulled, or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our Boise dentists, contact us at (208) 345-8962. We would be more than happy to help!

“Summit Dental Group, with its four dentists, eight hygienists, six dental assistants and six front office staff, is one of the most recommended dental offices in the Treasure Valley. From preventative maintenance to periodontal services, this office can take care of your whole family’s dental needs. Plus, the professionals at Summit, who have provided treatment in Cambodian villages as part of International Medical Relief, are as kind and understanding as they are skilled. And that’s the tooth!”

From all of the dentists and staff at Summit Dental Group, we would like to extend a huge “THANK YOU” to all of our wonderful patients who voted for us! We are so grateful and honored to have earned your business and respect over the years!

As a practice, we are overjoyed at having won Best Local Dentists Office in Boise Weekly’s “Best of Boise” Awards! Our dentists believe that preventative care and education are extremely important to optimal Boise dental health. We focus on thorough exams and checking the overall health of your teeth and gums. Not only are we concerned about the beauty of our patients smile, we are also concerned about the overall health of our patients. Whether your dental needs are a complete exam and cleaning, a full mouth restoration, or anything in between, Summit Dental Group will provide exceptional care as we restore and enhance the natural beauty of your smile!

For your next Boise dental visit, give us a call at (208) 345-8962 to schedule an appointment with the friendliest Boise Dentists in the Treasure Valley at Summit Dental Group! We try our best to make each visit fun and enjoyable for all of our patients!

Have you ever self-consciously hid your smile during a group photo? How about during a job interview or on a first date? Boise cosmetic dentistry was designed to help people just like you to feel more confident by hiding slight tooth damage and discoloration. If you have stained or cracked teeth, the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group offer porcelain veneers as a wonderful treatment option for those looking to enhance the natural beauty of their smile.

Veneers Work to Fix Multiple Problems

Veneers are small shells of porcelain that are customized and bonded to the surface of your teeth. If you are affected by one or more of the following problems, porcelain veneers may be the perfect dental solution:

Stubborn stains

Misaligned teeth

Teeth that are too large or small

Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth

Teeth that have large gaps between them

Improve Your Self-Image With Veneers

Porcelain veneers can radically improve your smile and overall appearance if you have teeth that are affected by one or more aesthetic problem. The beauty of this Boise dental treatment is that it can fix multiple problems at once, even if your teeth are discolored, misaligned, or uneven.

The benefits of veneers go far beyond the way you look. Most people with porcelain veneers agree that the biggest benefit is how it’s made them feel about themselves. This Boise dental treatment will not only provide you with the freedom to smile and laugh but boost your self-confidence as well.

Summit Dental Group

Choosing to get veneers can help you look and feel your best without the need for extensive cosmetic treatments. There are no drawn out requirements, and you can get back to your regular life as soon as you have them bonded.

To get the most out of your smile, contact the Summit Dental Group at (208) 345-8962 for an appointment. Our Boise dentists will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and talk about your best smile restoration options to determine what will work best depending on your needs.

Do you have one or more missing teeth? If the answer is yes, having missing teeth can greatly affect not only your self-confidence but make it difficult to eat or speak. At Summit Dental Group, Boise dental implants are often the most recommended restorative treatment option we offer for missing teeth. In fact, our Boise dentists love nothing more than transforming the lives of our patients by restoring the natural beauty of their smiles.

Boise Dental Implants

Boise dental implants are a wonderful, permanent option for anyone missing one or more teeth. No matter if a tooth was lost due to decay or injury, advancements in today’s dental technology makes dental implants a desirable option for nearly everyone with minimal disadvantages.

While traditional methods for replacing missing teeth like crowns, bridges, and dentures offer solutions, it’s important to understand they are more difficult to maintain and lose their effectiveness over time. Boise dental implants, on the other hand, deliver lasting, permanent results that restore the normal function of your mouth. Aside from feeling comfortable they also require minimal care and can be brushed and flossed like your natural teeth. No matter the location in your mouth, Boise dental implants can replace one or several teeth making it a highly recommended restorative dental treatment.

Not only do people with Boise dental implants look better, they feel better as well. While there is always a certain degree of risk that comes along with any type of oral surgery, the chances of developing an infection, nerve damage or sinus problems are extremely low with high success rates. Not only that but with proper care, dental implants can last you a lifetime!

The benefits of Boise tooth implants:

Improved Appearance/Speech/Comfort

Immediate Results

Improved Self-Esteem

Stability/Durability

Bone Retention

Easier Eating

Summit Dental Group

If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to speak to a Boise dentist about dental implants, contact Summit Dental Group today at (208) 345 -.8962. We would be more than happy to evaluate your dental health, answer any questions you may have, and discuss your available treatment options.

At Summit Dental Group, our Boise dentists are able to meet the diverse needs of our patients at different stages in their lives. However, teenagers often require unique dental services due to their age and lifestyle activities. As a result, teens have a higher susceptibility to tooth decay and oral injuries. That’s why it’s important to take into consideration the dental care needs of teens and what dentistry services they require.

Food Choices

Food choices play a significant role when it comes to the oral health of an adolescent. Teens that consume large amounts of sugar, and carbohydrates are at a greater risk of developing tooth decay. Popular drinks such as energy beverages, soda, sports drinks and fruit juices can also erode teeth increasing their chances of developing cavities.

That’s why it’s important to encourage your teen to eat healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables and calcium rich foods like yogurt and cheese. Replacing sugary drinks with water is another good way to prevent acid damage and unwanted tooth decay.

Sports Dentistry

Many teenagers are physically active in sports making them highly susceptible to Boise dental injuries. In fact, sports related injuries rank #1 for tooth and mouth injuries among teenagers. If your teenager participates in sports, it’s important that they wear a mouthguard to help preserve the integrity of their teeth.

Keep in mind that no matter how hard we try to protect our children, accidents do happen. In case of a dental emergency, contact your Boise dentist as soon as possible. At Summit Dental Group, we can provide you with emergency care and over-the-phone recommendations depending on the severity of your teens dental injury for their best smile restoration.

Monitoring Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that typically emerge around the early-mid twenties. For many teenagers, however, getting their wisdom teeth removed is a right of passage into adulthood. The reason being is that wisdom teeth can place serious pressure on existing teeth which can lead to issues like discomfort, tooth decay, and other serious dental health problems.

However, the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group can easily monitor the emergence of wisdom teeth in our teenage patients during routine checkups. Doing so will help with planning the inevitable and addressing any associated issues should they arise.

Routine Boise Dental Care

Potential problems that often develop in teenagers can easily be spotted by a hygienist and dentist during routine Boise dental visits. Routine cleanings and exams are important to all patients so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is a major part of teenage dental care.

As a practice, Summit Dental Group believes that preventative care and education are extremely important to optimal dental health. That’s why we provide our teenage patients with plenty of tips and pointers to improve their oral health and maintain the natural beauty of their smile at every visit.

Learn More About Teenage Dental Care

To learn more about teenage dental health and the services we provide, contact us at (208) 345-8962 to schedule an appointment. Our Boise dentists will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have while discussing your teen’s dental health now and in the future.

If you have a deteriorating tooth or a cavity that’s just too big to fill, you may be a good candidate for a Boise dental crown. Traditional crowns vs. today’s modern crowns are very different. With advanced dental technology, it’s easier than ever to get the treatment you need when you need it. While traditional crowns had their value, same day crowns with CEREC Digital Impressions are focused on saving you both time and money.

Traditional Crowns

In the past, if you needed a crown, your Boise dentist would take an impression mold of your tooth before sending it off to a lab to have a crown created. To protect your tooth during this process, a temporary crown would be placed while you waited for your permanent one to be made. Often, two or more weeks would go by where you would have to wear the temporary crown before returning to your dentist to have the permanent crown fitted.

CEREC – Same Day Crowns

Same day crowns, on the other hand, are exactly what their name implies. Utilizing CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) technology, a digital impression of your tooth will be taken. Instead of using an uncomfortable impression mold, your Boise dentist will then use the image and the CEREC machine to create a custom crown that fits your tooth.

A CEREC crown will then be placed the same day it was created, eliminating the need for multiple office visits. Not only will a CEREC crown provide you with a more natural look, the dentists at Summit Dental Group can guarantee that the color of your crown will match the color of your natural teeth as much as possible.

Summit Dental Group

Utilizing advanced dental technology, CEREC Digital Impressions have literally transformed the way we view modern dentistry. Not only do we have the ability to provide you with complex restorations in a single dental visit, we can provide you with the confidence of a more natural looking smile in the process.

When you need a Boise dental crown, the team at Summit Dental Group is dedicated to providing you with the most advanced, effective treatment options in both cosmetic and restorative dentistry. If you would like to learn more about same day crowns and their benefits, give us a call at (208) 345-8962 to schedule an appointment today.

Every parent wants their child to look and feel their best when they head back to school. That’s why we buy them new outfits, shop for school supplies and schedule haircuts. However, it’s important not to forget one major detail in order to keep them happy and healthy. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to schedule a routine Boise dental visit while incorporating good oral habits into your child’s daily routine.

Schedule Regular Boise Dental Visits

Visiting your downtown Boise dentist twice a year is important for all school-age children. During this period of their lives, there are great changes happening in their mouth with losing baby teeth and their permanent teeth growing in. Another one of the most common issues associated with kids this age is tooth decay. If left untreated, it can develop into a worsening problem that can affect your child’s ability to eat, speak, sleep and learn.

Establish Healthy Brushing Habits

It’s important for children to brush and floss their teeth at least twice a day. A good way to incorporate this daily routine is to have them brush their teeth in the morning before school and at night before they go to bed. By maintaining routine brushing and flossing habits, you will ensure your child develops the skills they need to maintain a healthy teeth and gums as they grow older.

Limit Your Child’s Intake of Candy and Sweets

Children everywhere love candy and sugary treats. However, the sugary residue left behind not only increases harmful levels of acids inside their mouth but increases their risk of developing cavities and tooth decay. Instead of packing candy or cupcakes into their lunches, fresh fruits and nuts can be used as a healthy alternative when it comes to limiting your child’s intake of harmful sugar.

Practice Sports Safety

Many children love to participate in sports and other after-school-activities. In order to protect our kids, parents go to great lengths to make sure they have all the appropriate equipment to keep them safe. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard while participating in sports is essential when it comes to protecting your child’s teeth and preventing unwanted dental emergencies from happening.

Contact Summit Dental Group at (208) 345-8962 to schedule your child’s back-to-school dental exam and start the new year off with a great smile!

Throughout history, there have been some pretty crazy misconceptions when it comes to dental health and dentistry. While many of these myths have been dispelled over time as silly superstitions, there are, however, many Boise dental myths that persist. That’s why the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group would like to separate fact from fiction in today’s blog by taking a look at six of the most enduring modern dental myths.

My teeth look and feel fine. I don’t need to see my Boise dentist.

Not only can looks be deceiving, you may not feel any pain from an undiagnosed problem until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to visit your downtown Boise dentist at least twice a year for bi-annual checkups and cleanings. Oral health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease can develop slowly and catching them early can help prevent them from turning into expensive, painful problems down the road.

My parents never had any major dental problems. Neither will I.

While genetics do play a small role in determining how healthy your teeth will be, it really all depends on how well you care for your teeth as you age. The best way to prevent problems from developing is to brush and floss your teeth regularly and visit your downtown Boise dentist regularly.

Brushing my teeth can hurt my enamel.

Unfortunately, it is possible to damage your enamel if you use a hard bristled toothbrush. However, worse problems can occur if you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly. That’s why it’s important to use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently clean your teeth, mouth, and gums at least twice a day. Doing so will NOT harm your enamel in any way.

Chewing gum is a good substitute for brushing my teeth.

While chewing sugar-free gum between meals is a helpful way to freshen your breath and increase the production of saliva, it’s no substitute for brushing your teeth. In order to remove harmful plaque and debris, brushing is an important part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Dental procedures are unsafe during pregnancy.

Taking care of your teeth and gums is especially important during pregnancy. Changes in hormone levels can cause inflammation of the gums which can lead to gingivitis. In fact, studies have shown a direct link between gum disease and preterm, and low-birth-weight babies. Symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, tender gums that are prone to bleeding. That’s why it’s important to visit your downtown Boise dentist for regular checkups when you are expecting.

Baby teeth don’t need much care.

Unfortunately, many people believe this common dental misconception. However, baby teeth play an important role in how your child’s permanent teeth will develop. Neglecting to take proper care of them can cause unwanted problems with their overall health and future teeth. As your child grows it’s especially important to teach them good oral hygiene habits as these habits will stick with him or her over the course of their life.

Summit Dental Group

At Summit Dental Group, our Boise dentists understand there are a variety of factors that can affect the health of your smile. If you are unsure about whether a certain habit, dietary choice or element of your daily routine may be affecting your oral health, call us at (208) 345-8962. Our dedicated team of dental professionals would be more than happy to set up an appointment and answer any questions you may have.